Sean Hollister

Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro Review: A Futuristic Laptop That Lags Behind

My laptop bag has never felt this light. My computer, never this thin. The $1,350 Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro feels like the future. But the future ain’t here yet. What Is It? A super-thin 13” laptop that bends over backwards to become a 13” tablet, too. A laptop that literally uses a giant metal watchband…

Google’s Reality-Bending Tablet Turned My Target Into an Icy Playground

Imagine you’re part of a big brand like Target. How do you convince customers you’re cool? If you’re not waiting around for one of your employees to become a viral teen hearthrob, how about thrusting them into a virtual reality world? In the latest example of VR advertising, Google and Target have teamed up to…

Alienware Says Alpha Is Still in Alpha

The Alienware Alpha is smaller and more powerful than an Xbox One or PS4, but the $549 Windows-powered game console shipped a little half-baked. Not to worry, says Alienware: updates are on the way! “We’re in the alpha phase of Alpha,” admits the company. https://gizmodo.com/alienware-alpha-review-close-but-no-game-console-1662525995 When I confronted Alienware Alpha product boss Marc Diana about…

Alienware Alpha Review: Close, But No Game Console

The Alienware Alpha sounds awesome. It’s smaller and more powerful than the PS4 and Xbox One. It doubles as an actual Windows PC! But be warned: it’s not as easy to use as a game console, not as foolproof. It’s not nearly the slam dunk I was hoping it would be. What Is It? Probably…

Waiting to buy the excellent Basis Peak activity tracker until it gets smartwatch notifications? They’re coming in mid-December. Also, the Peak will now stream your heart rate data via Bluetooth to Strava, MapMyRun and Endomoto apps. [Basis Blog]

How Magic Leap Is Secretly Creating a New Alternate Reality

Don’t you hate it when someone claims to have a magical new technology, but won’t tell you how it works? When I saw that a super stealthy startup called Magic Leap had raised $542 million to make animals appear out of thin air, I resolved to find out exactly what was going on. Here’s what…

Has an App Ever Made You Feel Special?

Last night, I experienced a moment of pure wonder. It felt like it was meant for me. Sick in bed, still coughing and sneezing at 3AM, I absentmindedly checked my smartphone. To my astonishment, a tiny blue spark appeared on my screen. Tapping it, my phone became a window into a miniature world worthy of…

​The Best Sleeping Pad For Every Camper

Outdoor sleeping pads can now be more comfortable than your bed at home. IndefinitelyWild tried out 24 top candidates to find the best for every scenario. Which ones made the cut? Find out below. https://gizmodo.com/the-best-outdoor-sleeping-pads-for-every-camper-1659697249

Is Google Glass Dying?

Google Glass was supposed to be the eyewear of the future, but that future sounds pretty grim—at least if you read Reuters’ latest report on the cyborg-like eyewear. While Reuters doesn’t seem to have any evidence that the Glass project has been shelved—a notion which Google denies, naturally—Reuters does paint a surpisingly compelling picture of…

Nvidia’s Shield Tablet Gets a Little Sweeter

The Nvidia Shield Tablet isn’t for everyone, but it’s a pretty solid Android machine. It’s about to get even better in three distinct ways: Android 5.0 Lollipop, Half-Life 2: Episode 1, and a whole bunch of absolutely free streaming games. First off, if you’ve read anything we’ve said about Google’s new Lollipop, you know how…

​I Wish This iPhone Flash Drive Worked Better

I have no idea why Apple still sells iPhones and iPads that have only 16GB of storage. But wouldn’t it be great if you could just plug in a flash drive that added more? The SanDisk iXpand wants to be that drive. Sadly, it’s not. Available this week in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB capacities for…

Samsung’s Gear VR Headset Will Cost $200

How much cash will you need to spend to turn your Samsung Galaxy Note 4 into a bonafide virtual reality headset? Now, we finally know: the Samsung Gear VR will officially cost $200. There will actually be two versions: the standalone $200 Gear VR headset, and a $250 bundle that comes with Samsung’s Bluetooth gamepad.…

The Golden Age of Motorola

I don’t trust brands. You shouldn’t either. But right now, you can’t go wrong with a Motorola smartphone. Do you know how rare it is I can say that about a company? My job is to make sure you know which specific gadgets are worth your time and money, not to make blanket statements like…

Samsung Project Beyond: A 360° Camera For Streaming Virtual Reality

Samsung’s serious about virtual reality, and not just with a fancy headset accessory for the Note 4. The company’s also built its own lightweight 360-degree camera, dubbed Project Beyond. Though details are scarce, Samsung says it can give you a full 3D, 360 degree view of anywhere it films, and it won’t just be a…

This Amazing ’80s Arcade Is the Best Virtual Reality Trip Yet

The Oculus Rift VR headset can take you to incredible fictional places, like scene from gorgeous movies likeInterstellar or Spirited Away. Last night, it took me somewhere more grounded in reality, but still spectacular: my own personal, deliciously retro ’80s arcade. The New Retro Arcade, by Digital Cybercherries, easily ranks among my favorite virtual reality…

HP Just Built a Gaming Laptop. Seriously.

Once upon a time, a tiny company called VoodooPC built some of the most incredible gaming computers around. Now, its owner HP is paying homage with the Omen — the first serious gaming laptop the company has ever made. No, the Voodoo brand is not coming back, and the Omen doesn’t offically have “VoodooDNA,” despite…

Nexus Player Review: Android TV Isn’t Ready For Primetime

Android TV is exciting. It’s beautiful. The idea makes sense. And you should probably steer clear till Google gets its shit together. Until it does, the $100 Nexus Player just isn’t a good buy. What is it? The $100 Nexus Player is the first set-top-box to run Android TV, a new fork of the Android…

iPad Air 2 Review: When Thin Actually Means Something

Gadgets get thinner every year. That’s a given. But the iPad Air 2 crosses a threshold where thin makes a difference. I bought my first iPad in the summer of 2012, under the pretense that it would be a really killer digital photo frame at my wedding. (Ahem.) In the two-plus years since, I’ve never…

The Microsoft Band Is a $200 Heart-Monitoring Wristable Supreme

Yes, we just got done telling you all about some Microsoft Band rumors, but don’t bother with those: The Microsoft Band is officially official. The 10-sensor fitness tracker, which should last two days on a charge, will go on sale tomorrow for $200. In addition to the obvious optical heart-rate monitor you can see in…

Here’s Our First Glimpse of Microsoft’s Fitness Band

We’d heard that Microsoft would have a new wearable device soon, and now we may have our first look at the goods. Microsoft already has a companion app on the Mac App Store, which shows what the new Microsoft Band will probably look like. Officially released by Microsoft Corporation today, the Microsoft Band Sync app…